Featured Diva: Quenita, AAS Advertising/Graphic Design

Please tell Back to School Divas a little bit about yourself and your back to school story. What made you go back to school? What makes your back to school experience unique?  I graduated high school in 1980, went to an HBCU, NC ...

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Please tell Back to School Divas a little bit about yourself and your back to school story. What made you go back to school? What makes your back to school experience unique? 

I graduated high school in 1980, went to an HBCU, NC A&T State University, in the Fall of 1980. My focus was not on education. I went following my boyfriend. I only attended 1 1/2 years before going back home and working.
Years went by, I continued to work. Became pregnant, married, and from there it was family first and basic living.
I am a very proud mother of amazing educated adult sons, both holding graduate degrees and are entrepreneurs.
I spent my life encouraging, motivating, and inspiring my sons to get their education. To go as far as you can obtaining their education. I did not want them to interrupt their education. I encouraged them to see the world. They already knew what was at home (hometown). They both did just that. And after my youngest son received his graduate degree in Film Production, he decided he wanted to be a Barber, so he moved back home and enrolled in a local Barber program and finished in June 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. He has 6 more months of apprenticeship. Upon receiving his full license, he plans to open his own Barber Shop. He is also a video content creator specializing in promos, wedding music videos, and short films.
I decided to return to my education after becoming an empty nester, having raised my sons, as a single mother when they were ages 5 and 8; and also after being the primary caregiver for my mother who passed away in 2016. I had taken a couple of Photoshop classes several years ago and loved those classes, so I chose the Advertising/Graphic design curriculum. I began in January 2018 and because I work full time am only able to take two classes per semester and summer. It has been what seems like forever, I am excited to say I will graduate in Spring 2022.
My situation may not be unique to many, but it is unique to me. There are many times, at my age of 59, I ask myself why am I doing this? Who cares? why now? Why not just quit? My answer to myself is I quit before. I taught my sons to not quit, to never give up. Give out before giving. I think about that when those negative questions come to my thoughts. Having only a high school diploma, until I follow this venture through satisfactorily completing the course requirements for an AAS Advertising/Graphic Design Degree, I don’t feel I have led my sons by example.
Between my two sons, I’ve been to and cheered them through 7 graduations, from high school through grad school, and Barber school. I have 6 caps/gowns/stoles hanging in my closets. I want the next cap/gown/stole that is worn and comes into my house to be worn by and belong to ME!

Has your back to school experience been a smooth journey? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

It has certainly been a journey! I cannot complain. I pay for my own classes. I only take two per semester and summer sessions. I limit myself to two classes to not overwhelm myself because I do work full-time and manage a Scheduling Call Center. There are times when the job can require more of me, but I set clear boundaries, as school is super important to me this time around.

Tell us about some time management, study, or money-saving tips that helped you make it to where you are in your journey.

Time management is a struggle. Having not been to school in several decades, I realized that I needed to discipline myself to create study time. My entire program has been online. I had to set a study boundary for myself. Homework is due by midnight one night per week. On the due night, I place my phone on Do Not Disturb till midnight.
This allows me to focus on my classwork to make sure I have everything ready to submit if I’m down to the last night to submit. As soon as I leave work, my phone goes on DND. By doing this I don’t hear calls nor texts coming in. If I did, I would spend the majority of my evening chit chatting and texting. It took family and friends a while to understand and some were offended, but this is about me, not them. My sons knew and understood, but they also know that they are exceptions to my rule and I am available for them anytime, even on homework night.

Tell us about your career goals. What do you plan to do with your degree once you finish?

Both my sons are entrepreneurs in videography/film/advertising/social media. My goal is to help them with their business after I retire from my current job.

If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?

Time management is a struggle. Having not been to school in several decades, I realized that I needed to discipline myself to create study time. My entire program has been online. I had to set a study boundary for myself. Homework is due by midnight one night per week. On the due night, I place my phone on Do Not Disturb till midnight. This allows me to focus on my classwork to make sure I have everything ready to submit if I’m down to the last night to submit. As soon as I leave work, my phone goes on DND.

 

The heart of our mission is to encourage other women on their back to school journeys. The goal of Featured Diva is to celebrate women who are making their academic dreams come true in hopes that other women will find encouragement to strive toward their goals.

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Is Western Governors University Right for You: Pros & Cons

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Considering online university? There are many digital colleges to choose from. At Back to School Divas, we want to help you make the right choice for you and your family. Today...

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Considering online university? There are many digital colleges to choose from. At Back to School Divas, we want to help you make the right choice for you and your family.

Today we’re breaking down Western Governors University (WGU).

WGU Reviews

One of the best ways to judge an institution is through online student reviews. According to Grad Reports, WGU is a highly recommended university with 4 out of 5 Star ratings from current and past students.

WGU Programs

WGU has 4 online colleges available with more than 60 degree programs between them.

  1. College of Business
  2. Teachers College
  3. College of Information Technology
  4. College of Health Professions

These colleges all offer accredited degree programs in the specified fields.

See a program you’re interested in? Now that you know WGU offers programs that fit your needs, let’s break down pros and cons of attending this online college.

Pros of Attending WGU

Online Programs are Convenient

Online classes are simply convenient, especially for the modern mom who has a number of things on her to-do list. You’ll be able to receive all your course material, assignments and test dates all online so that you’re able to plan ahead.

Course Mentors Available for Assistance

Many people may shy away from online courses because they’re under the impression that they won’t be able to get the support they would get from traditional classes. Well, with WGU, you’ll have course mentors and relevant professor available for consultation when you need them. Like all online college, there are also online group discussion platforms that allow you to engage with your peers.

A New Program Starts Each Month

This is, perhaps, one of the best advantageous to heading to WGU. All the WGU programs have start dates on the first of every month, all year long. This means that you don’t have to wait until spring or fall semester to start your program.

Low Tuition

College student loans debt is at an all-time high and any institution that offers more affordable courses is worth mentioning. Their site explains that “we’re about half the cost of most other online universities”. Sounds like a win.

Cons of Attending WGU

Not Ideal if You Need Face-to-Face Learning

Not everyone is crazy about online courses. Some people need face-to-face time with their lecturers and peers. If that describes you, and you and have the time to attend classes multiple a week, then WGU might not your best pick. You may consider other online universities that also offer on-campus learning including Strayer University.

 

You’ll Need a Serious Amount of Self-Motivation

One of the best parts about the institution is its “Competency-based education”. This means that there is a strong focus on measuring learning rather than time. For instance, if you’re able to put in the hours, then you can complete your degree program at a much shorter time frame than someone who isn’t able to put in the same amount of time. This, however, also means that you’ll need to be self-disciplined and motivated as you are the one who will ultimately decide when you complete your degree.  The same runs true for any college you attend!

 

Know someone who wants to learn more about online colleges? Share this post with your friends and tell us how you chose your school!

 

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Is Strayer University For You: Pros & Cons

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When it comes to online universities, Strayer University has been making waves. With a spokesperson like Queen Latifah, and commercials airing all the time, it’s hard not to notice them!   Read more

When it comes to online universities, Strayer University has been making waves. With a spokesperson like Queen Latifah, and commercials airing all the time, it’s hard not to notice them!

 

If you’re considering attending one of Strayer University’s online programs, you’ll  want to get informed on what the school offers, the tuition prices, and what other students have to say about it.

 

We’ve got you covered.

 

We’re here to breakdown the pros and cons of attending Strayer University, so you can determine for yourself what’s best for you.

 

Strayer University: The Good Stuff

Affordable Tuition and Financial Aid Opportunities

Strayer cites it’s base price per course as $1465. Unlike many schools, Strayer prices per course, rather than per hour. This flat rate doesn’t include fees like lab fees or administrator fees, however.

This rate compares well to some other popular online university tuition fees:

  • Strayer University: $1,465 per course
  • University of Phoenix: $1,195 per course
  • Capella University: $1,062-$2,460 per quarter

When you apply to attend Strayer, a Financial Advisor will walk you through the process of applying for aid. You’ll learn how much you could qualify for, as well as final dues before you start the semester.

PS: You can explore 2019 scholarships you can apply for right now here.

Variety of Online Programs

With options for Certificates, Associate, Graduate and Master’s degrees, Strayer University is competitive in the online college space.

Associates:

  • Arts in Accounting
  • Arts in Information Systems
  • Arts in Acquisition and Contract Management
  • Arts in Marketing
  • Arts in Business Administration
  • Arts in Information Technology

Bachelors:

  • Science in Accounting
  • Science in Information Systems
  • Business Administration
  • Science in Information Technology
  • Science in Criminal Justice
  • Applied Science in Management

Masters:

  • Education
  • Science in Health Services Administration
  • Science in Accounting
  • Science in Information Systems
  • Public Administration
  • Science in Management
  • Business Administration
  • Science in Information Assurance
  • Human Resource Management

Earn Credit For Your Experience

Strayer University takes into account the rich life you’ve already lived. They may accept credit from your previous work and life experience, education and equivalency exams. You can also receive credit for military training and experience.

 

Good Reputation and High Retention

Compared to some other popular online university’s Strayer University has a positive reputation in the community. You’ll have access to resources including advisors, career development services, and technical support. The retention rate is also reported to be higher than average for online colleges.

 

Strayer University: The Challenges

Larger Class Sizes

One benefit of online college is the ability to train at your own pace, in a more efficient manner. However, for a popular school like Strayer University, that may not always be the case. Comparison Shop has reported larger-than-average class sizes, which can make it difficult to connect with professors and get the one-on-one help you need.

 

Difficulty With Financial Aid Department

Some students report challenges communicating with the FA department at Strayer. While there may not be a solid reason for that, many online colleges report these types of concerns.

 

Is Strayer University a top pick for you, or do you have another school in mind? Let us know in the comments below! You can also check out our review of Phoenix University here!